Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,022 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $2,386 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,693 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,536 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,365 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,687 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 69% more than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 193%, Memphis, TN by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$18.28 $18.28

38.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$75.4 $75.4

31.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.59 $11.59

$11.76 $11.76

-1.45%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.53 $5.53

4.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.46 $2.46

37.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.94 $1.94

36.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.21 $7.21

12.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$7.85 $7.85

14.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.90 $0.90

61.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.04 $3.04

48.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.07 $4.07

8.35%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$3.36 $3.36

47.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.10 $11.10

14.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.41 $14.41

$11.07 $11.07

30.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$18.36 $18.36

-22.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$4.47 $4.47

21.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.70 $1.70

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.91 $4.91

-12.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$4.75 $4.75

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.27 $3.27

33.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.53 $3.53

-0.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.59 $2.59

17.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.34 $2.34

-4.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 $11.68

$8.28 $8.28

41.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.40 $13.40

11.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.78 $1.78

17.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.65 $1.65

41.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.98 $0.98

105.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.2 $70.2

$49.07 $49.07

43.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.96 $1.96

51.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.35 $1.35

40.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$36.43 $36.43

$19.84 $19.84

83.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.00 $1.00

37.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.9K $36.9K

$37.6K $37.6K

-1.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.9K $26.9K

-4.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$257 $257

$169 $169

51.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$84.7 $84.7

-17.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.0 $72.0

$74.2 $74.2

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.86 $39.86

$32.39 $32.39

23.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 $11.88

$16.12 $16.12

-26.30%

Cinema Ticket

$13.88 $13.88

$14.78 $14.78

-6.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,789 $1,789

$1,706 $1,706

4.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.2K $37.2K

$27.4K $27.4K

35.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$44.74 $44.74

61.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.59 $45.59

$31.61 $31.61

44.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 $81.3

$75.9 $75.9

7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$139 $139

-7.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,383 $1,383

93.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$1,139 $1,139

116.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,161 $4,161

$1,974 $1,974

110.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,846 $3,846

$1,819 $1,819

111.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,479 $9,479

$1,746 $1,746

443.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,162 $7,162

$1,337 $1,337

435.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,310 $6,310

$3,490 $3,490

80.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.06

2.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Memphis, TN: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,680 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $1,383 in Memphis, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 81% higher in Costa Mesa, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $75.0 in Memphis, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $383 – making Memphis, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Costa Mesa, CA vs Memphis, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 69% more than Memphis, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,033 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,579 in Memphis, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Memphis, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Costa Mesa, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Costa Mesa, CA and $75.0 in Memphis, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Memphis, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,386, than in Costa Mesa, CA at $4,022. In Memphis, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Costa Mesa, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Memphis, TN costs $2,386 versus $4,022 in Costa Mesa, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Memphis, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Costa Mesa, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.